JOY/REJOICING

There are three utmost ways to rejoice always as a christian.

1.Living above our circumstances.

Habakkuk 3 vs 17-19 reads,

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.19     he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

So even though, all things are not working,he shall rejoice. Do not just rejoice when you get a job, because its all you have wanted, and then when you realize it pays less than what your friends are getting, you stop being joyful. In the verse, Habakkuk says there is no food, no grapes, and no cattle, but he says, he shall rejoice! Why? This brings us to our second point:

2.Depending on our Gods strength as our Savior.

'Because the the sovereign God is my strength'

No, we can not do we it all on our own. Because there will be circumstances that will bring us down, bring us to tears. and if we rely on our strength, we shall not always rejoice. But if we rely on Gods strength, then we shall make it.

3. Fixing our eyes on the future.

We have a great future ahead of us. When things are not working today,they have to work tomorrow. Because all things happen for the good of those who Love Him.

It was Paul who said to rejoice not at some time..but always.In Philippians 4 he says;

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

And this is the Paul who suffered greatly for Christ. Read his account below, from the book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 11.

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

This guy who received 39 lashes is the one that said rejoice. Yes. Rejoice and rejoice always.

Nehemiah 8:10

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

James 1:2 says to count it all joy, especially when we go through trials because it marks certain things for us

 Having joy will always guarantee you to not lose your faith, because you will keep within the limits of Gods will.

When you are sad and not happy/joyful, you can easily be shaken on what your trusting God for. The bible talks of people who were disapointed and cursed God. But when happy, u will surely keep within your faith

OFFERINGS

Money is going to make lots of people lose their salvation.
I understand now why Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to go to heaven.
But whats really the fascination with money?
God has blessed you with something,
and is only asking,not half, but a tenth of that back.

Let us avoid giving God our remnants.
He does not say when you have gotten your man, bought everything you Need and want,the tenth of that No.
He wants the money you get,and before everything else,its tenth.
Don't cheat God, give Him what He desrves, and not remnants. (Malachi 1 6-14)
In fact, the book of Malachi, with only four pages, talks much about giving to God.
And if you pray and ask God, you will see hidden secrets in that book
That am really trying to find words to reveal but this is the best i can do,for now.

 We see in 1Chronicles 21 vs 24 the same thing.
We are being warned against giving God what costs us nothing.

Avoid insulting God.
I have to go but this is one chapter that even Jesus tackled about when He talked about the poor woman who gave everything.

Its like this, it doesnt matter whether you are giving a MK1000 when you earn k200,000.
Because how much is that in percentage?
And how much really are you losing?

It is though such a big deal if someone who earns MK10,000 pays k1,000
Because that is one tenth of their earning and they are likely to feel it.

I have to go, but this is just the tip of the iceberg to this subject.....

NOT ACHIEVING THE DESIRED OUTCOME?

Part of the preaching yesterday at Reedemed for a Purpose Ministries : By Pastor Aubrey Mwasinga.
Eph 3:18-19 New Century Version

"18 And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love -- how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. 19 Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. THEN you can be filled with the fullness of God."

Many people want to flow in the fullness of God and have great impact on earth yet they have usually ignored the seemingly simple things like love and concentrated on the seemingly more powerful things and have in the end not had desired results.

The bible says Hope, faith and LOVE remain but LOVE IS THE GREATEST (1 Cor 13:13). And when talking of spiritual gifts and have one can start to have them, Apostle Paul says desire is good but LOVE is the the MORE EXCELLENT WAY (1 Cor 12:31)

Understand today how WIDE, LONG, DEEP, HIGH Christ's love is and begin to walk the same way and then you will have similar results to the ones Christ had!

AMEN.